Freddy Krueger

Movie Monster

Born: 1984

Birthplace: Hollywood, California

Best known as: The scary guy from the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise

Movie villain Freddy Krueger is the wise-cracking central character in the movie franchise that started with filmmaker Wes Craven's 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street. Krueger's costume is a cruddy fedora, a red-and-charcoal striped sweater and, most importantly, a leather glove with razor claws attached to the fingers. He has the supernatural ability to visit the dreams of others -- usually teenagers -- and commit violent acts that simultaneously occur in the real world. The success of the original film led to several sequels and a variety of merchandise, from action figures to Nike shoes. Krueger was played by actor Robert Englund in eight films all told: A Nightmare on Elm Street; Freddy's Revenge (1985); Dream Warriors (1987); The Dream Master (1988); The Dream Child (1989); Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991); New Nightmare (1994); and Freddy vs. Jason (2003, with the villain from the Friday the 13th series of horror films). A new actor, Jackie Earle Haley, took over the Freddie Krueger role for the 2010 series reboot A Nightmare on Elm Street, which was described as a "reimagining" of the original.

Extra credit: Young Johnny Depp has a small role in the original 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street.